Kalabaris converge, speak on Tonye Cole's Governorship
Politics

Kalabaris converge, speak on Tonye Cole’s Governorship

As the political scene becomes increasingly volatile and plagued with intrigues, the Kalabaris have come together to send a strong message to the world, on their position when it comes to the Governorship of Rivers State.
 
Prominent kalabari Chiefs, sons and daughters converged at the residence of Elder Statesman and Ijaw leader, Alabo T.O. Graham-Douglas, on December 13, 2018, in Rivers State, to make their resolutions known.
 
The appraisal and review of the political disarray in the kalabari kingdom and increasing concern at the declined role of the  kalabaris in governance despite their critical role in the formation of Rivers State, formed the crux of their discussion.
 
A communiqué signed after the meeting condemned the continuous neglect of Riverine communities, especially kalabari communities, irrespective of their role in ensuring the emergence of an upland Governor in 1999.
 
The communiqué noted that the decision to enthrone an upland Governor at the detriment of their kalabari son was done in the interest of fairness and equity, as Kalabaris were part of those who founded the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and leaders of the party in the state.
 
With the foregoing, according to the communiqué, they resolved to garner support for the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Pastor Tonye Cole, whom they referred to as their preferred candidate.
 
They called on kalabari sons and daughters to rally support for Cole, because for them, this is the right thing to do after several years of upland rule.
 
They expressed gratitude to the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, for his resolve to honour the zoning principle despite several efforts to truncate it.
Excerpts of the communiqué below:

 

COMMUNIQUE OF CONCERNED KALABARI PEOPLE ON
RIVERS STATE GOVERNORSHIP AND POLITICAL TERRAIN
A galaxy of concerned illustrious sons and daughters of the Kalabari
kingdom met today, Thursday, 13 th December 2018, on a non-partisan
basis at the residence of the Elder Statesman and Ijaw leader, Alabo T.O
Graham-Douglas, and exhaustively appraised and reviewed the political
disarray in the Kalabari kingdom. Concerned of the declined role of the
Kalabari people, both prior to and in the creation of Rivers State, the
pivoted role in the establishment, development and stabilization of the
State, in the pioneer administration and the personality of its people,
which was maliciously betrayed and subsequently marginalized the
Kalabari people resolved as follows:

i. By consideration of their indispensible role from 1999 in the
formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their
subsequent magnanimous decision to shift power from the
Riverine communities to the Mainland, significantly in rejecting
their son, Chief Ebenezer Isokariari and supporting a mainland
minority candidate, Dr. Peter Odili in the governorship of
Rivers State;

ii. The prolonged governorship of Mainland sons, with no
favourable and visible political space whatsoever for the
Kalabari’s and Riverine persons.
iii. The deprivation of any form of developmental consideration of
the area, inspite of the extensive oil production activities.

iv. Denial of human and manpower development, howbeit,
financial empowerment with perfected divide and rule tactics,
including the sustenance of militancy amongst our youth
population.

v. And now, delighted and conscious of the political space and
opportunity created by one of the two major and main political
parties, the APC, to give a governorship slot to a Kalabari son,

2
who enjoys excellent unsoiled and inpeccable pedigree with
assiduous and unparallel business ingenuity; humble with
righteous fear of God, with focused perception of repositioning
and the development of Rivers State.

vi. Now we resolve and declare that Pastor (Arch) Tonye Dele Cole
is the preferred candidate from a major political party, the
Kalabari kingdom associates with and adopts in the race of the
governorship.

vii. Furthermore, all our other illustrious sons, in minor political
parties, should fall in line with this resolution and join hands
with their brother, Pastor (Arch) Tonye Dele Cole, to bring this,
one in a lifetime opportunity to fruition in 2019.

viii. We equally express our sincere and profound thanks and
appreciation to the leader of the APC in Rivers State, Hon.
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi; for his demonstration of honour
towards the Kalabari’s, in this epoch event.

ix. We significantly thank all other ethnic groups in the Mainland
and Riverine communities who magnanimously and implicitly
stood by our son, Pastor (Arch) Tonye Dele Cole, and genuinely
supported him throughout the selection period. God bless you
all.
SIGNED:
For and on behalf of the Kalabari people as attached:

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